Carl Brown, one of the latest teachers to join the CraftyMonkies talent-pool returns this month with his third BRAND NEW class. Since first teaching with us in 2024, Carl has been winning various awards at quilt shows in the US and is fast becoming an in-demand fibre artist. We are absolutely delighted Carl has chosen to teach another class for us - namely Breeze: A Curved Improv Experience - and we hope you will continue your journey with him.

 

On another note, Carl is flying in from the US for our UK Weekend Craft Retreat at Rutland in September 2025! It will be the first time we will have an American tutor teaching for us on a Retreat here in the UK and we couldn't be more excited about it! Only TEN places remain for the Rutland Hall Hotel Weekend Craft Retreat in 2025 at the time of writing, so please do be sure to check it out and book your place ASAP if you would like to come meet & work with the lovely Carl - and three other top tutors! - in person.

 

For now let's get back to Carl's Zoom-class!...

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Introduction to Carl:-

As a fibre artist, Carl has been sewing and quilting for about 6 years. Like many fibre artist, he began with simple traditional quilt patterns and then began to create more complex abstract and improvisational work utilizing his own designs. Carl has a tremendous fascination with colour, shapes, and especially has an appreciation with curve improvisation fibre work. His techniques include Improv quilting, appliqué and appli-piecing, as well as both machine and long-arm quilting.

 

In Carl’s history as a fibre artist, he has had several quilts juried into national and international shows. Recently he was named “Emerging New Artist” at Interpretations 2023 and Best Use of Colour Artistry at Visions 2024 at the Visions Museum of Textile Art in San Diego. He has been juried into International Quilt Show, Road to California, QuiltCon, Mancuso’s Quiltfest shows, and numerous AQS shows as well. Internationally, he was juried into Salon Pour l’Amour du Fil, in Nantes, France.  He also has also won awards for his fibre art. Besides being a fibre artist, Dr. Carlton “Carl” G. Brown, RN, PhD, FAAN is a long-term oncology nurse, researcher, book author, and health care executive. He is the editor of an award-winning textbook for oncology nurses and patients with cancer and he has cared for patients with cancer for 30 plus years.

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What you will learn on this Online Interactive Workshop:-

I’m sure you are wondering what 'Breeze' is perhaps? Well, 'Breeze' is a curved improv quilt series of mine where I ask the viewer to envision what a breeze would look like if seen through a colour lens. Sure, we feel and know a breeze is present, but what would it look like if we could really see it?

 

In this class, you will learn my techniques for:-

• Cutting (with a Rotary Cutter) the curved pieces of the composition...

• Sewing those curved pieces using a special process that uses no pins and...

• How to use an improv approach to start with one curved piece and build upon it.

 

A brief discussion of colour and motion will also be included. I will also discuss throughout the course some tips and tricks along the way. In this course we will work towards a cushion that you might put on a sofa or chair, but these curved piece techniques could just as easily be used to start a curved quilt just like 'Breeze'. Curves do have a reputation of being difficult to sew but this class will help demystify that reputation easily and consistently.

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Skill Level for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Advanced Beginner - able to work their own sewing machine, sew a scant 1/4” seam, and use a rotary cutter safely.

 

Material requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

The student will need:-

• A sewing machine that sews a straight stitch, preferably with a knee lift (not mandatory).

• A new sewing needle that matches the thread you plan to use.

• Thread for sewing - Carl's favourite is 50 wt Aurifil Dove Grey (2600) but any thread with which the student has familiarisation with will do.

• A rotary cutter - Carl's favourite is a 60” with safety but 45” will do just as well. And a newly inserted blade.

• A pair of sewing scissors, preferably ones only used prior for cutting fabric

• Some form of design board that we can stick our created Improv pieces too - but no worries as an 18” by 18” piece of leftover batting or flannel will work nicely!

• A pencil (with white and regular lead - Sewline is Carl's favourite - or a water-based fabric pen.

• An iron and misting bottle. Carl finds a mini iron with less size and weight useful - to prevent the curves from stretching (but not necessary).

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Fabric requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-​

Any fabric will do, fat quarters, or yardage. Carl mostly uses solid colours as that is part of the modern definition. He especially likes ombre fabrics such as those by Jennifer Sampou (but this isn’t necessary for this class). You might want to come with one family colour, like say Lime and then also bring other Green colours and maybe Yellow, plus some White and Black as well. Unless you are going for that effect, avoid 'holiday' colours like Halloween (Orange, Black, White) or Christmas (Red, Green, and White).

 

Equipment requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

• See Material Requirements listing (above) to include a sewing machine that does a simple straight stitch, and knowledge of how to use that machine. If the sewing machine has a knee lift, that is great, as it helps with the curve sewing.

• Most important of all - bring a willingness to explore your own creativity! We're going to have so much FUN!!!...

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Pattern Information relevant to this Online Interactive Workshop:-

None - we're all about 'improv' in this class, baby!

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Tickets for this Online Interactive Workshop (via the Zoom platform) will be limited and allocated on a first-come/first-served basis! Any free pattern and other information, relevant to this course will be forwarded to you after booking and approximately 5 days before the course date.

The ticket price of £35.00 is based on ONE person attending this crafting class.

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This CraftyMonkies online interactive workshop is being broadcast from the United Kingdom and the class time given is based on British Summer Time (BST). We advise you check via Google Search (or similar) to see corresponding start-time in YOUR location!

Here's a great world time zone reference:-

https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/

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Ordering MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT Online For Any Class/Workshop!

Please ensure you book your place & order any materials/fabrics/equipment online in plenty of time ahead of course dates.

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Are you not able to attend this class due to living in a different time-zone? Are you otherwise engaged on the date of this workshop? Well, we have excellent news!

This class will be available to view via Pay-On-Demand via our Online Shop for 60 days following the video release date (approximately 5 working days after broadcast on Zoom).